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Party planned for The Womb gallery moves to Oklahoma City Farmers Public Market

The Womb, an art gallery co-owned by Flaming Lips singer Wayne Coyne, will remain closed by the Oklahoma City Fire Marshal, and a New Year's Eve party scheduled at the former garage will proceed at the Farmers Public Market.

The Womb, an art gallery co-owned by Flaming Lips singer Wayne Coyne, will remain closed by the Oklahoma City Fire Marshal, but a New Year's Eve party scheduled at the former garage will proceed as planned at the Farmers Public Market.

Left: The exterior of The Womb Art Gallery is shown Friday in Oklahoma City. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman

Coyne and gallery co-owner Rick Sinnett had hoped they could reopen the gallery, 25 NW 9, following its forced closing Thursday. But in discussions with fire and police officials, Sinnett said no accommodation could be reached.

The owners of the historic Farmers Public Market auditorium, however, quickly reached out to the band to allow for the party and art showing to proceed beginning Friday night and continuing New Year's Eve. The party on New Year's Eve is set to follow a joint concert by the Flaming Lips and the Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band at the Coca-Cola Bricktown Events Center.

The gallery hosted several public events since opening earlier this year. But the citation closing the gallery noted the building did not have sprinklers, exits or other safety measures required for large public assembly spaces.

Oklahoma City Fire Battalion Chief Brian Stanaland said “positive” discussions were held Friday and that both sides hope to work together to see how the gallery can be opened at a later time.

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Steve Lackmeyer is a reporter and columnist who started his career at The Oklahoman in 1990. Since then, he has won numerous awards for his coverage, which included the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, the city's Metropolitan...